The New York Yankees acquired infielder Rougned Odor from the Texas Rangers for two minor league outfielders, the teams announced Tuesday.
As part of the deal, the Rangers are expected to take on almost the entirety of the $27 million owed to Odor. He’s slated to make $12 million in base salary this season and in 2022 as part of a six-year, $49.5 million extension he signed in 2017. There is a $13 million team option for 2023 that can be bought out for $3 million.
The Rangers acquired minor league outfielders Antonio Cabello and Josh Stowers from the Yankees.
Odor, 27, failed to make the Rangers’ Opening Day roster and was designated for assignment after hitting .200 in 35 at-bats during spring training. He had been Texas’ starting second baseman since 2014 but was told prior to spring training that he would be used in a utility role this spring.
Nick Solak is Texas’ starting second baseman while Charlie Culberson and Brock Holt have served as infield reserves.
Odor slugged 30-plus homers three times during his Texas tenure.
Declining Production
Odor had 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 38 games during the shortened 2020 season but batted just .167 and struck out 47 times.
That continued a downward trend from 2019 when Odor batted just .205 and struck out an American League-worst 178 times. He hit 30 homers and drove in a career-best 93 runs despite the struggles.
Odor also had issues in the field as he led all major league second basemen in errors in 2016 and 2017 and was the AL leader in errors in 2015 and 2019. He tied for the AL lead last season.
Odor has a .237 career average with 146 homers, 146 doubles and 458 RBIs in 858 games with the Rangers.
Stowers, 24, was originally selected in the second round of the 2018 June draft by the Seattle Mariners, and was acquired by the Yankees as part of trades that sent pitcher Sonny Gray to Cincinnati.
Cabello, 20, saw his first professional action in 2018-19, combining for a .251 batting average with eight home runs and 40 RBIs over 102 games.
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
